18 U.S. Code § 1001 - Statements or entries generally

(a)Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—

(1)falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;

(2)makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or

(3)makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;

shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section
2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both. If the matter relates to an offense under chapter 109A, 109B, 110, or 117, or section
1591, then the term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be not more than 8 years.

(b)Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that party’s counsel, for statements, representations, writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a judge or magistrate in that proceeding.

(c)With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to—

(1)administrative matters, including a claim for payment, a matter related to the procurement of property or services, personnel or employment practices, or support services, or a document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative branch; or

(2)any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or office of the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the House or Senate.

The provision relating to false claims was incorporated in section
287 of this title.

Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section
2 of this title.

Words “or any corporation in which the United States of America is a stockholder” in said section
80 were omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “agency” in section
6 of this title.

In addition to minor changes of phraseology, the maximum term of imprisonment was changed from 10 to 5 years to be consistent with comparable sections. (See reviser’s note under section
287 of this title.)

2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–458substituted “be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section
2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both” for “be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both” in concluding provisions.

1996—Pub. L. 104–292reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”

1994—Pub. L. 103–322substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.

Change of Name

Reference to United States magistrate or to magistrate deemed to refer to United States magistrate judge pursuant to section 321 ofPub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section
631 of Title
28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Short Title of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–275, § 1,July 15, 2004, 118 Stat. 831, provided that: “This Act [enacting section
1028A of this title, amending sections
641 and
1028 of this title, and enacting provisions listed in a table relating to sentencing guidelines set out as a note under section
994 of Title
28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act’.”

Pub. L. 106–578, § 1,Dec. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 3075, provided that: “This Act [amending section
1028 of this title, repealing section
1738 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section
1028 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Internet False Identification Prevention Act of 2000’.”

Short Title of 1998 Amendments

Pub. L. 105–318, § 1,Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 3007, provided that: “This Act [amending sections
982,
1028, and
2516 of this title and section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95–521, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section
1028 of this title and section
994 of Title
28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998’.”

Pub. L. 105–172, § 1,Apr. 24, 1998, 112 Stat. 53, provided that: “This Act [amending section
1029 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section
994 of Title
28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Wireless Telephone Protection Act’.”

Pub. L. 101–123, § 1,Oct. 23, 1989, 103 Stat. 759, provided that: “This Act [amending section
1031 of this title, repealing section
293 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections
293 and
1031 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section
293 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Major Fraud Act Amendments of 1989’.”

Short Title of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–700, § 1,Nov. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 4631, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections
293 and
1031 of this title and section
256 of Title
41, Public Contracts, amending section
2324 of Title
10, Armed Forces, and section
3730 of Title
31, Money and Finance, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections
293 and
1031 of this title, section
2324 of Title
10, and section
522 of Title
28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section
2324 of Title
10] may be cited as the ‘Major Fraud Act of 1988’.”

Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 1601,Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2183, provided that: “This chapter [chapter XVI (§§ 1601–1603) of title II of Pub. L. 98–473, enacting section
1029 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section
1029 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Credit Card Fraud Act of 1984’.”

Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 2101,Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2190, provided that: “This chapter [chapter XXI (§§ 2101–2103) of title II of Pub. L. 98–473, enacting section
1030 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section
1030 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Counterfeit Access Device and Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1984’.”

Short Title of 1982 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–398, § 1,Dec. 31, 1982, 96 Stat. 2009, provided: “That this Act [enacting sections
1028 and
1738 of this title and amending section
3001 of Title
39, Postal Service] may be cited as the ‘False Identification Crime Control Act of 1982’.”